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arms over to patriots； 〃forty sous a day are allowed to citizens with
small means while under arms。〃＇142＇ Notice is given without fail the
preceding evening to the trusty men of the quarter； accordingly； early
in the morning； the Committee of Supervision has already selected from
the Jacobin sections 〃the most needy companies in order to arm those
the most worthy of combating for liberty；〃 while all its guns are
distributed 〃to the good republican workmen。〃 ＇143＇ From hour to
hour as the day advances； we see in the refractory sections all
authority passing over to the side of force； at the Finistère； Butte…
des…Moulins； Lombards； Fraternité； and Marais＇144＇ sections； the
encouraged sans…culottes obtain the ascendancy； nullify the
deliberations of the moderates； and； in the afternoon； their delegates
go and take the oath at the H？tel…de…ville。
Meanwhile the Commune； dragging behind it the semblance of popular
unanimity； besieges the Convention with multiplied and threatening
petitions。 As on the 27th of May； the petitioners invade the hall； and
〃mix in fraternally with the members of the 'Left。〃' Forthwith； on the
motion of Levasseur； the 〃Mountain；〃 〃confident of its place being
well guarded；〃 leaves it and passes over to the 〃Right。〃＇145＇ Invaded
in its turn； the 〃Right〃 refuses to join in the deliberations；
Vergniaud demands that 〃the Assembly join the armed force on the
square； and put itself under its protection〃； he and his friends leave
the hall； and the decapitated majority falls back upon its usual
hesitating course。 All is hubbub and uproar around it。 In the hall the
clamors of the 〃Mountain；〃 the petitioners； and the galleries； seem
like the constant roar of a tempest。 Outside； twenty or thirty
thousand men will probably clash in the streets；＇146＇ the battalion of
Butte…des…Moulins； with detachments sent by neighboring sections； is
entrenched in the Palais…Royal； and Henriot； spreading the report that
the rich sections of the center have displayed the white cockade； send
against it the sans…culottes of the faubourgs Saint…Antoine and Saint…
Marceau； cannon are pointed on both sides。 These loaded cannon must
not be discharged； the signal of civil war must not be given； it is
simply necessary 〃to forestall the consequences of a movement which
could be only disastrous to liberty；〃＇147＇ and it is important to
ensure public order。 The majority； accordingly； think that it is
acting courageously in refusing to the Commune the arrest of the
Twenty…two； and of the Ministers； Lebrun and Clavière； in exchange for
this it consents to suppress its commission of Twelve； it confirms the
act of the Commune which allows forty sous a day to the workmen under
arms； it declares freedom of entry into its tribunes； and； thanking
all the sections； those who defended as well as those who attacked it；
it maintains the National Guard on permanent call； announces a general
federation for the 10th of August following； and goes off to
fraternize with the battalions in the PalaisRoyal； in battle array
against each other through the calumnies of the Commune； and which；
set right at the last moment； now embrace instead of cutting each
other's throats。
This time； again； the advantage is on the side of the Commune。 Not
only have many of its requirements been converted into decrees； but
again； its revolutionary baptism remains in full force； its executive
committee is tacitly recognized； the new government performs its
functions； its usurpations are endorsed； its general； Henriot； keeps
command of the entire armed force； and all its dictatorial measures
are carried out without let or hindrance。 There is another reason
why they should be maintained and aggravated。 〃Your victory is only
half…won；〃 writes Hébert in his Père Duchesne； 〃all those bastards of
intriguers still live！ 〃 On the evening of the 31st of May the
Commune issues warrants of arrest against the ministers Clavière and
Lebrun； and against Roland and his wife。 That same evening and
throughout the following day and night； and again the day after； the
Committees of Supervision of the forty…eight sections； according to
instructions from the H？tel…de…ville＇148＇ study the lists of their
quarters；＇149＇ add new names to these； and send commissaries to disarm
and arrest the suspected。 Whoever has spoken against revolutionary
committees； or disapproved of the assaults of the 31st of May； or not
openly shown himself on the 10th of August； or voted on the wrong side
in the old Legislative Assembly； might be arrested。 It is a general；
simultaneous raid； in all the streets we see nothing but people seized
and under escort sent to prison； or put before the section committee。
〃Anti…patriotic〃 journalists are arrested first of all； the entire
impression of their journals being additionally confiscated； and the
journal suppressed； the printing…rooms of Gorsas are sacked； seals
placed on his presses；＇150＇ and Prudhomme himself is locked up。 All
resistance is overcome in the Contrat…Social； Fraternity； Marais and
Marseilles sections； leaving the Commune free； as far as the street is
concerned； to recommence its attack on the Convention。 〃Lists of sans…
culottes workmen〃 have been drawn up in each section； and six francs a
head is allowed them； payable by the Convention； as indemnity for
their temporary suspension from work；＇151＇ this is a premium offered
to voters； and as nothing is more potent than cash in hand； Pache
provides the funds by diverting 150；000 francs intended for the
colonists in San Domingo； the whole day on the 2nd of June； trusted
men go about among the ranks distributing five…franc assignats。＇152＇
Vehicles loaded with supplies accompany each battalion； the better to
keep the men under arms；＇153＇ the stomach needs filling up； and a pint
of wine is excellent for strengthening patriotic sentiment。 Henriot
has ordered back from Courbevoie the battalions of volunteers which a
few days before had been enlisted for La Vendée；＇154＇ crooked
adventurers and looters； later known as 〃the heroes of the 500
francs。〃 Besides these he has under his thumb Rosenthal's hussars； a
body of German veterans who do not understand French； and will remain
deaf to any legal summons。 Finally； he surrounds the Convention with
a circle of picked sans…culottes； especially the artillerists； the
best of Jacobins；＇155＇ who drag along with them the most formidable
park of artillery； 163 cannons； with grates and charcoal to heat the
balls。 The Tuileries is thus encircled by bands of roughs and
fanatics； the National Guard； five or six times as many；＇156＇ brought
out 〃to give an appearance of a popular movement to the proceedings of
five or six thousand bandits；〃 cannot come to the aid of the
Convention； it being stationed out of reach； beyond the Pont Tournant；
which is raised； and behind the wooden fence separating the Carrousel
from the palace。 Kept in its position by its orders； merely serving